Piercing and extruding mandrel locking means and parts therefor or the like



Oct. 11, 1966 A. D. GETTIG 3,277,692

PIERCING AND EXTRUDING MANDREL LOCKING MEANS AND PARTS THEREFOR OR THE LIKE Filed Jan. 2, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. ALLEN D. GETTIG BY ,j 2

His ATTORNEYS Oct. 11, 1966 A. D. GETTIG 3,

PIERCING AND EXTRUDING MANDREL LOCKING MEANS AND S s-Shee Filed Jan. 2, 1964 United States Patent Office 3,277,692 Patented Get. 11, 1966 PIERCING AND EXTRUDING MANDREL LOCK- ihilgE MEANS AND PARTS THEREFOR OR THE Allen D. Gettig, Phoenix, Ariz., assignor to Reynolds Metals Company, Richmond, Va., a corporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 2, 1964, Ser. No. 335,276 15 Claims. (Cl. 72-480) This invention relates to an improved piercing and extruding mandrel locking means as well as to improved parts for such a locking means or the like.

It is well known that an apparatus can be provided which will extrude a tubular length from a solid, heated metallic billet by having the billet pierced by the mandrel to such an extent that the billet can be subsequently extruded into the tubular length.

However, when the apparatus is being utilized to extrude a tubular length having a cross-sectional configuration other than circular, such as rectangular or the like, the piercing and extruding mandrel must be positively held from rotational movement relative to the apparatus while still being axially movable relative thereto.

Further, even though the piercing and extruding mandrel is held from rotational movement relative to the apparatus, some means must be provided to permit rotation adjustment of the mandrel relative to the apparatus so that the same can be properly aligned relative thereto.

According to the teachings of this invention, such an improved mandrel locking means are provided.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved piercing and extruding mandrel locking means having one or more of the novel features of this invention as set forth above or hereinafter shown or described.

Another object of this invention is to provide improved parts for such a mandrel locking means or the like.

-Other objects, uses and advantages of this invention are apparent from a reading of this description which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an axial, cross-sectional view illustrating the improved apparatus of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken on line 33 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the mandrel locking parts of this invention.

While the various features of this invention are hereinafter described and illustrated as being particularly adaptable for locking an extruding and piercing mandrel from rotational movement relative to the apparatus carrying the same, it is to be understood that the various feaures of his invention can be utilized singly or in any combinatoin thereof with other apparatus as desired.

Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, because the drawings are merely utilized to illustrate one of the wide variety of uses of this invention.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, an improved extruding apparatus of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral and comprises a stationary housing 11 having a chamber 12 therein to receive a solid metallic billet 13 adapted to have one end 14 thereof disposed against an external extruding die means 15 while the other end 16 thereof is adapted to be disposed against an axially movable dummy block 17 for a purpose hereinafter described.

An axially movable frame structure 18 is provided and carries a hollow stem 19 adapted to engage the dummy block 17 to move the same to the left to extrude the billet 13 in a manner hereinafter described, the stem 19 encompassing a piercing and extruding mandrel 20 secured to an axially movable housing member 21 in a manner hereinafter described. Movement of the housing member 21 to the left in the drawings causes the tip 22 of the mandrel 20 to pierce through the billet 13 until the extruding surface 23 of the mandrel 20 is disposed adjacent the external extruding die means 15 to define an annular chamber therebetween. Thereafter, the mandrel 20 is held stationary and the stem 19 is moved from the position illustrated in FIGURE 1 to the left to cause the billet 13 to extrude between the tip 22 of the mandrel 20 and the external die means 15 and form a tubular length out through a passage means 24 of the housing 11 in a manner conventional in the art.

However, when the apparatus 10 is being utilized to extrude a tubular length having a cross-sectional configuration other than a true circular cross-sectional configuration, the tip 23 of the mandrel 20 must be held in a positive rotational position relative to the external die means 15 during the above described extruding operation to provide a uniform tubular length having a crosssectional configuration other than a circular cross-sectional configuration, such as a rectangular cross-sectional configuration or the like.

Since the mandrel 20 comprises a plurality of parts joined together in aligned relation, it can be seen that the terminal part 25 of the mandrel 20 is interconnected to the axially movable housing 21 in a manner now to be described.

The part 25 of the mandrel 20 has stepped cylindrical portions 26 and 27 each externally threaded whereby the part 27 is adapted to be threaded in a threaded bore 28 of the axially movable housing 21.

A retainer 29 is threaded onto the threaded portion 26 of the part 25 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 4 and is adapted to be held from rotation relative to the frame structure 18 by a plurality of locating rods 30 passing through suitable bores 31 in the frame structure 18 and having ends 32 adapted to abut against the housing 11 to prevent movement of the mandrel 20 to the left beyond I the limits of the rods 30.

The other ends 33 of the rods 30 are carried in suitable bores 34 of a plate-like member 35 secured to the retainer 29 by threaded fastening members 36 in a manner hereinafter described.

As illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 4, the plate-like member 35 has a pair of opposed guides 37 secured thereto and respectively having key slots 38 passing therethrough.

A pair of key members 39 are respectively secured to the internal peripheral surface of the frame structure 18 by threaded fastening members 40 and are respectively received in the key slots 38 of the plate-like member 35 to hold the plate-like member 35 from rotational movement relative to the frame structure 18 while being axially movable relative thereto.

The plate-like member 35 has a plurality of stepped, arcuate slots 41 passing therethrough and respectively defining shoulders 42 against which washer-like members 43 are adapted to abut, the washer-like members 43 having suitable apertures 44 passing therethrough through which the threaded part of the threaded fastening members 36 can pass and be received in aligned threaded bores 45 formed in the retainer 29.

Thus, because the plate-like member 35 is held from rotational movement relative to the frame structure 18, the same holds the retainer 29 from rotational movement relative to the frame structure 18 by the threaded fastening members 36.

Accordingly, by providing a lock nut 46 threaded on the threaded portion 26 of the part 25 of the mandrel 20 and disposing the same tightly against the retainer 29, it can be seen that the retainer 29 will hold the mandrel 20 from rotational movement relative to the frame structure 18.

However, should it be desired to adjust the rotational position of the piercing and extruding mandrel 20 relative to the frame structure 18, the threaded fastening members 36 are loosened while in the position illustrated in FIGURE 2 whereby an operator can reach through a suitable opening in the frame structure 18 and by inserting a pin in one of the bores 47 formed in the retainer 29, can slightly rotate the retainer 29 relative to the frame structure 18 within the limit of the slots 41 to reposition the piercing and extruding mandrel 20 relative to the frame structure 18.

Further, should it be desired to change the position of the rods 30 relative to the frame structure 18 to provide a deeper piercing of the billet 13 or a shallower piercing thereof, the lock nut 46 can be loosened and the platelike member 35 can be detached from the retainer 29 by removing the threaded fastening members 36 out of the bores 45 of the retainer 29.

Thereafter, the retainer 29 can be rotated relative to the mandrel 20 to the desired position thereon whereby the lock nut 46 can be again engaged against the retainer 29 to lock the same to the mandrel 20 and the plate-like member 35 can be again secured to the retainer 29 by the threaded fastening members 36 whereby the rods 30 will now be disposed in a new position relative to the frame structure 18 for the desired purpose.

Since an excess number of threaded bores 45 are provided in the retainer 29, it can be seen that regardless of the rotational position between the retainer 29 and the plate-like member 35, each slot 41 in the plate-like member 35 will be aligned with a bore 45 in the retainer 29.

Therefore, it can be seen that an improved piercing and extruding mandrel locking means is provided by this invention as well as improved parts for such a mandrel locking means or the like.

While the form of the invention now preferred has been disclosed as required by the statutes, other forms may be used, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow. 8

What is claimed is:

1. A piercing and extruding mandrel locking means comprising a frame structure, a mandrel mounted for axial movement relative to said frame structure, said mandrel having an externally threaded end, an axially movable housing interconnected to said threaded end of said mandrel to axially move said mandrel relative to said frame structure, a retainer threaded on said threaded end of said mandrel, a lock nut threaded on said threaded end of said mandrel to lock said mandrel to said retainer, and means interconnecting said retainer to said frame means to permit axial movement of said retainer relative to said housing while preventing rotational movement relative thereto.

2. A piercing and extruding mandrel locking means as set forth in claim 1 wherein said threaded end of said mandrel has two parts, one part threadedly receiving said housing and the other part threadedly receiving said retainer and lock nut.

3. A piercing and extruding mandrel locking means as set forth in claim 1 wherein said last-named means is detachable from said retainer to permit rotational adjust ment of said retainer relative to said mandrel.

4. A piercing and extruding mandrel locking means comprising a frame structure, a mandrel mounted for axial movement relative to said frame structure, said mandrel having an externally threaded end, an axially movable housing interconnected to said threaded end of said mandrel to axially move said mandrel relative to said frame structure, a retainer threaded on said threaded end of said mandrel, a lock nut threaded on said threaded end of said mandrel to lock said mandrel to said retainer, and a plate-like member interconnected to said retainer and being interconnected to said frame structure so as to be axially movable relative thereto while being held from rotational movement relative to said frame structure whereby said retainer holds said mandrel from rotation relative to said frame structure.

5. A piercing and extruding mandrel locking means as set forth in claim 4 wherein said retainer is adjustably interconnected to said plate-like member.

6. A piercing and extruding mandrel locking means as set forth in claim 4 wherein said plate-like member has a plurality of slots therein and wherein said retainer has a plurality of threaded openings therein aligned with certain of said slots, and bolt means passing through said aligned slots and openings to interconnect said retainer to said plate-like member.

7. A piercing and extruding mandrel locking means as set forth in claim 6 wherein said slots are arcuate and longer than the cross-sectional widths of said bolts to provide adjusting means between said retainer and said platelike member.

8. A piercing and extruding mandrel looking means as set forth in claim 6 wherein said slots are stepped and wherein washer-like members are received in said slots to be disposed between said bolts and said plate-like member.

9. A piercing and extruding mandrel locking means comprising a frame structure, a plurality of rods carried by said frame structure in a manner to prevent orbital movement of said rods relative to said frame structure while allowing axial movement relative thereto, a mandrel mounted for axial movement relative to said frame structure, said mandrel having an externally threaded end, an axially movable housing interconnected to said threaded end of said mandrel to axially move said mandrel relative to said frame structure, a retainer threaded on said threaded end of said mandrel and carrying the ends of said rods whereby said retainer is held from rotation relative to said frame structure, and a look nut threaded on said threaded end of said mandrel to lock said mandrel to said retainer whereby said retainer holds said mandrel from rotation relative to said frame structure.

10. A piercing and extruding mandrel locking means as set forth in claim 9 wherein said ends of said rods are held to said retainer by a plate-like member held from rotational movement relative to said frame structure while being axially movable relative thereto.

11. A piercing and extruding mandrel locking means as set in claim 10/ wherein said plate-like member is keyed to said frame structure for axial movement therebetween.

12. A piercing and extruding mandrel locking means as set forth in claim 10 wherein said retainer is adjustably secured to said plate-like member so that said retainer can be rotated relative to said plate-like member to adjust said rods relative to said frame structure.

13. A piercing and extruding mandrel locking means comprising a frame structure, a mandrel mounted for axial movement relative to said frame structure, said mandrel having an externally threaded end, an axially movable housing interconnected to said threaded end of said-maudrel to axially move said mandrel relative to said frame structure, a retainer threaded on said threaded end of said mandrel, a lock nut threaded on said theraded end of said mandrel to lock said mandrel to said retainer, a plate-like member interconnected to said retainer and being interconnected to said frame structure so as to be axially-movable relative thereto while being held from rotational movement relative to said frame structure whereby-said retainer holds said mandrel from rotation relative to said frame structure, and a plurality of locat- 5 6 ing rods carried by said frame structure for axial move- References Cited by the Examiner ment relative thereto, said rods having ends intercon- UNITED STATES PATENTS nected to said plate-like member whereby said rods move in unison with said plate-like member. 2,063,563 12/1936 Sparks 72265 14. A piercing and extruding mandrel locking means 5 FOREIGN PATENTS as set forth m claim 13 wherein said plate-like member 12 606 5/ 1933 Great Britain.

has a plurality of openings thereln and wherein said ends of said rods are received in said openings. 192295 2/1923 Great 15. A piercing and extruding mandrel locking means 925,945 5/1963 Great Bntam' as set forth in claim 13 wherein said plate-like member is keyed to said frame structure to provide said axial 10 CHARLES LANHAM Pnmary Exammer' movement relative thereto. H. D. HO-INKES, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A PIERCING AND EXTRUDING MANDREL LOCKING MEANS COMPRISING A FRAME STRUCTURE, A MANDREL MOUNTED FOR AXIAL MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO SAID FRAME STRUCTURE, SAID MANDREL HAVING A EXTERNALLY THREADED END, AN AXIALLY MOVABLE HOUSING INTERCONNECTED TO SAID THREADED END OF SAID MANDREL TO AXIALLY MOVE SAID MANDREL RELATIVE TO SAID FRAME STRUCTURE, A RETAINER THREADED ON SAID THREADED END OF SAID MANDREL, A LOCK NUT THREADED ON SAID THREADED 